Megaselia armipectus Borgmeier, 1967

DISNEY, R. H. L., 2003, Tasmanian Phoridae (Diptera) and some additional Australasian species, Journal of Natural History 37 (5), pp. 505-639 : 531-532

Megaselia armipectus Borgmeier, 1967

(figure 11E–F)

Megaselia armipectus Borgmeier, 1967a: 230 .

This species was described from two females from New South Wales. The procurement of a series of males and females in Tasmania, including a pair in copula, allows description of the hitherto unknown male. Most females run out at couplet 20 on p. 201 of Borgmeier’s (1967a) keys, but the few whose costal index is <0.44 run to couplet 6 on p. 205. Likewise many males will run to couplet 20 on p. 201, and those with the anterior scutellars relatively short will run to couplet 46 on p. 204; but most males (with CI <0.44) run to couplet 6 on p. 205 .

Male

Frons similar to female, with dense but very fine microsetae. Antennae brown with numerous SPS vesicles that are smaller than sockets of lower SA bristles plus an irregular large vesicle near base. Labrum pale dusky yellow, paler than female, and its greatest width at most only 0.66× that of third antennal segment, Labella, as in female, with only a few scattered hairs and spinules below. Thorax as female, with three bristles on notopleuron. Abdominal tergites brown with hairs on rear halves, which are only a little longer at rear of T6 (figure 11F). Venter greyish brown, with hairs below segments 3–6. Hypopygium mainly brown, with pale yellow but slightly dusky tinged, anal tube, and as figure 11F. Legs similar to female, but hairs below basal half of hind femur longer, being even more obviously longer than those of anteroventral row of outer half. Wing length 0.8–1.4 mm. Costal index 0.41–0.45. Costal ratios 3.3–5.1:1.7–2.4:1. Costal cilia 0.05–0.08 mm long. Otherwise it and haltere as female .

Female

Dufour’s crop mechanism oval but almost as wide as long and usually with the posteromedian region demarcated as a dorsal lobe. With four rectal papillae.

Material

Seven males, 3 females, Tasmania, Hobart, Battery Point, De Witt Street , garden, 23–31 December 1991, 1–11 January 1992 ( R. H. L. Disney —25-4, 25-7, 25-34, 25-39) ; 6 males, 7 females (including one pair in copula), Mount Field National Park, Russell Falls , 11 January 1992 ( RHLD —25-8, 25-9) ; 1 male, Lake St Clair, near Cynthia Bay , 20 September 1998 ( RHLD —25-26) ; 5 males, 10 females, Hobart, Sandy Bay, Acushla Court , garden, 17–26 September 1998 ( RHLD —25-22, 25-24, 25-25, 25-27, 25-29, 25-30, 25-32) . 24 males, 36 females, Fern Tree, Grays Road , 147°15∞E, 42°57∞S (grid ref. 203474), 540 m altitude, 7–17 August 2000 ( RHLD — 25-41-44) .

Natural history

The gut contents (mainly the crop) of some females included pale fungus spores (at most 0.01 mm in diameter). The female caught in copula was gravid, with only three mature eggs (0.47–0.50 mm long). In other females there were seven immature eggs.